→ softly | eruri

25

The cold December weather seeped through the crowd of students, filling their lungs with white clouds. Booming anxiety thudded against their pumping chest while their eyes stayed put at the notice board in front of them. Frantic shouting could be heard, some walked away crying while the other tear up in joy.

It was three weeks later when the principal announced the examination results, and everyone was freaked out by it. The world somehow moved in slow motion and captured the students' scared faces perfectly. They immediately panicked with their friends, saying the results came too early and they weren't ready to tell their parents about it. 'It's not my problem.' Said the principal, adding more volume of fuel to the students' already intense fire.

Not for Erwin however. He had been rereading  his name for the 10th time but still, his brain kept processing what was written on the seemingly inconsequential piece of paper behind those glass. He averted his gaze and closed his eyes, forcing the happiness to soak into his cold bones, yet the moment felt so ... plain.

Straight As. That's normal for him. But he should at least, relaxed his mind and his body from all the stress that he had gone through. His nerve tensed as he thought about the future; the same thing will go on a repetitive cycle. Next year, he would go on the same old examination with more stress, more assignments, more projects, more deadlines. And greater expectations.

"Not surprised?" Hange emerged from behind, hands in her coat pocket. The blond glanced at her briefly before replying with a modest shrug.

"Not surprised." He echoed bluntly.

The female reached out her hand and patted his shoulder, lips forming a faint smile. "I'm still proud of you, though. Gosh, I feel like a mom."

Erwin chuckled. "What are your results?"

"Straight As as well. But with two A minus." She rolled her eyes. "Calculus be ruining the whole thing."

The blond nodded in agreement. Then, his ears picked up a distinct cheer on his left, causing him to look at the commotion. Eyes lighting up when he saw the sight of Levi, Isabel and Furlan celebrating for their grades. Both friends circling around the ravenette with complacency, gushing about their friends' achievements. Erwin felt a subtle amusement running around his mind and he instantly turned to Hange.

"I'm going to check on Levi." He told her, which she responded with a thumbs up.

He turned his heels and approached the ravenette and his two companions casually as though he haven't been staring at him for the past two minutes.

"Oh, shit. Your boyfriend is coming." Isabel said manically while pointing a finger towards Erwin's direction. Both Furlan and Levi followed her gaze and saw that the blond was already standing beside the smaller male. A smirk etched onto Levi's face and he huffed in arrogance, acting like he was waiting for his arrival.

He nudged Erwin's arm after a long silence. "I passed." His voice smoothed into a purr, and Furlan could see pride buzzing around his head.

The blond nodded and showcased a 'Oh, that happened because I became your tutor, or else you would've failed a long time ago. Thanks to me, you finally got something to be proud of' expression. But instead of saying those words out loud, his lips stretched to a slow-moving grin.

"Congratulations." He cooed. Cautiously, he rested his hand on Levi's shoulder, making him jerked by the contact.

"You deserve it." He finished off and looked at the male. His eyes shot up and Erwin winked teasingly. A small shriek was released from Isabel's and she quickly slapped her hand on her mouth. Erwin pulled Levi slightly closer so that he could see his two other friends.